Lake Worth Will Back Future Water Conservation Demands

LAKE WORTH — The Lake Worth City Commission has agreed to support the South Florida Water Management District`s conservation orders during future water shortages.

``I think most everyone is going this route, so there will be a uniform way to deal with a water emergency, if declared,`` Utilities Director Claude L`Engle told the commission Monday night.

The water management district did not seek the support of any cities in the past, said Stanley Niego, the attorney for the district who sent the sample ordinance to all municipalities in the district.

``We`ll get a better degree of support by local police if their municipality supports the ordinance,`` Niego said Tuesday.

All police officers in the state can enforce the water conservation measures, regardless of whether their cities adopt them, said Assistant City Attorney Paul Nicoletti.

But cities that have adopted the ordinance will receive a rebate from the court system for every citation issued by one of their officers, Nicoletti said.

According to the ordinance, first-time violators will be subject to a $25 fine. Persons with more than one violation could be fined up to $500 and jailed up to 60 days.

Conservation methods vary with the degree of the emergency.

Phase 1 practices include watering lawns during the early morning, not hosing down a driveway or sidewalk, turning off the shower while lathering and shutting off the water while shaving or brushing one`s teeth.

City residents voluntarily cut their consumption by 17 percent after water management officials requested voluntary conservation in mid-March, L`Engle said. City officials voluntarily cut back on watering parks and the city golf course by 15 to 30 percent, he said.

Later in the evening, the commission canceled a $6.5 million beach renovation plan adopted before the new commission was seated. It would have been financed through increased user fees, such as higher parking meter rates.

The Lake Worth Beach Casino building would serve well as a banquet hall and seminar center, Kohl said.

But before the casino can become the hub of a catered convention, it must be air-conditioned, Kohl said. A modern kitchen, new stairway and an elevator also must be installed, he said.

Kohl said the chamber does not want to reroute traffic, move parking spaces or engage in the other improvements proposed in the canceled beach renovation plan.